Rights Holder: The Portable Antiquities Scheme
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Unique ID: IOW-F3C251
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Published
A complete Roman silver denarius of Nerva (AD 96-98), dating to the period c. AD 97 (Reece period 5). AEQVITAS AVGVST reverse type depicting Aequitas standing left holding scales and cornucopiae. Mint of Rome.
Obverse: IMP NERVA CAES AVG P M TR P COS III P P; Laureate head right.
Reverse: AEQVITAS-AVGVST; Aequitas standing left holding scales and cornucopiae.
Diameter: 17.5mm. Weight: 2.82g. DA=12:6.
As RIC II, p. 224, no. 13.
Notes:
Marcus Cocceius Nerva was born in AD 35 and held public offices under Nero and Vespasian. He may have been banished by Domitian, with whom he may have had a relationship, to Tarentum. Nerva was known for his quiet lifestyle before becoming emperor, and wrote poetry. Domitian's assassins approached Nerva as a potential emperor only after others had turned down the offer.
He was known to have a kindly disposition, and he set free many who had been wrongly accused of treason. In fact, some accused Nerva of giving Romans too much freedom and abolishing too many taxes; he tempered his leniency but never put anyone, even those plotting his downfall, to death.
After a year of rule, Nerva was taken captive by the angered Praetorian Guard. The Guard had been faithful to Domitian and sought to avenge his death. He survived and adopted Trajan, naming him a Caesar and co-consul. Nerva died of an illness and was later deified by Trajan. Suetonius describes Nerva as feeble in health but handsome, with a large nose.
Current location of find: Finder
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Broad period: ROMAN
Subperiod from: Early
Period from: ROMAN
Subperiod to: Early
Period to: ROMAN
Date from: Circa AD 97
Date to: Circa AD 97
Quantity: 1
Weight: 2.82 g
Diameter: 17.5 mm
Date(s) of discovery: Sunday 13th January 2019 - Sunday 13th January 2019
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Other reference: IOW2019-2-24
Primary material: Silver
Manufacture method: Struck or hammered
Completeness: Complete
Denomination: Denarius (Empire)
Denomination qualifier: Certain
Ruler/issuer: Nerva
Primary ruler qualifier: Certain
Reece period: Period 5 [96-117]
Mint or issue place: Rome
Mint qualifier: Certain
Obverse description: Laureate head right
Obverse inscription: IMP NERVA CAES AVG P M TR P COS III P P
Reverse description: Aequitas standing left holding scales and cornucopiae
Reverse inscription: AEQVITAS-AVGVST
Die axis measurement: 6 o'clock
Degree of wear: Slightly worn: very fine
RIC Identifier: RIC II Nerva 13_denarius
Status: Regular
Status qualifier: Certain
Grid reference source: GPS (from the finder)
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 1 metre square.
No references cited so far.